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79R14128 KO-D

By:  Craddick                                                   H.C.R. No. 146



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the 265th 
Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on April 19, 2005, and 
he has chosen the name Benedict XVI; and
	WHEREAS, Born on April 16, 1927, in Germany, Pope Benedict 
XVI is the first German pope in centuries; he grew up in Traunstein 
and studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich and 
at the higher school of philosophy and theology in Freising; in 
1951, he was ordained a priest and, two years later, obtained a 
doctorate in theology; from 1957 to 1969, this learned man taught 
dogma and fundamental theology at universities in several German 
cities, and, in 1969, he was appointed a professor of dogmatic 
theology and history at the University of Regensburg, where he also 
served as vice president; and
	WHEREAS, Cardinal Ratzinger was already well known in 1962 
when, at the Vatican Council II at the age of 35, he became a 
consultor to the Archbishop of Cologne; in 1977, Pope Paul VI 
appointed him Archbishop of Munich and Freising, making him the 
first diocesan priest in 80 years to take over the pastoral ministry 
of this large Bavarian diocese; that same year, he was proclaimed a 
cardinal by the pope; and
	WHEREAS, In 1981, Cardinal Ratzinger was nominated by Pope 
John Paul II to serve as prefect of the Congregation for the 
Doctrine of the Faith and as president of the Biblical Commission 
and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission; he was 
named vice dean of the College of Cardinals in 1998 and John Paul 
approved his election as its dean in 2002; and
	WHEREAS, Chosen on the second day of the conclave by the 
college of 115 cardinals from 52 countries, Pope Benedict XVI was 
one of the closest associates of John Paul II as well as his chief 
theological advisor for more than two decades, and he will 
undoubtedly carry on his predecessor's traditional theological 
teachings and promote human dignity across the world as he leads the 
church and its 1.1 billion followers in this new millenium; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby honor His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his election to the 
papacy.